Portable traffic marker



Aug. 11, 1959 H. A. MURRA-Y, SR 2,893,879

PORTABLE TRAFFIC MARKER Filed March 27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j? YER TE F I uvmvrok.

' HUGH A. MURRAY 'SR.

ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 11, 19-59 H. A. MURRAY, SR

PORTABLE TRAFFIC MARKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1957 INVENTOR.

- v HUGH A. MURRAY SR.'

Y $157M vZZZ/W/ ATTORNEYS. r

PORTABLE TRAFFIC MARKER Hugh A. Murray, Sn, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to I.D.L. Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 27, 1957, Serial No. 648,832

Claims. (Cl. 116-63) This invention pertains generally to traflic markers and directional signs, and more specifically to a readily portable and collapsible traflic marker which may be transported in a collapsed position and temporarily mounted upon its own base in erected position at any point upon a highway or at the side thereof for traffic direction. The marker has a further safety feature in that, upon being struck by a vehicle while in erected position, the marker will move to collapsed position permitting free passage of the vehicle thereover with a minimum of damage to the marker or vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable highway trafiic marker comprising a supporting base and an upright connected therewith wherein the upright is self retaining in erected position and readily deflectable to a position substantially parallel to the highway.

Another object of the invention is to provide a readily portable highway traffic marker which is effective by day and night and provides a minimum traffic hazard.

These and other objects of the invention will be made apparent from the following specification and the drawing forming a part thereof wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of one form of marker in erected position;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the marker of Fig. I in collapsed position ready for carrying or packaging;

Fig. 3 shows a front elevation of a portion of the marker of Fig. 1 illustrating the construction of the upright;

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of the marker in collapsed position for carrying or storage;

Fig. 5 shows a front elevation of the base with the upright in erected position;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the base of Fig. 5 in inverted position and provisions for weighting the base;

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a further modification of the marker of the invention;

Fig. 8 shows on a reduced scale a side elevation of the marker of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 shows a further and preferred form of the invention wherein the upright is provided with a bracket for attachment to any suitable form of base;

Fig. 10 shows on a reduced scale a perspective view of the bracket and upright of Fig. 9 applied to a flat sheet or board forming the base; and

Figs. 11 and 12 show enlarged details of construction of Figs. 7 and 9.

Referring now in detail to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings, the traflic marker shown therein comprises a base 1, upright 2 and a spring clip member 3 secured to base 1 providing a pivotal connection between the base and upright. Within the upright 2 is mounted a suitable member 4 providing traflic warnings or directions.

The base 1 is preferably of metal, but may be of any other suitable material, and is shaped to form an inverted substantially V-shaped member 5 having the intermediate portion 6 thereof spaced ihwardly from theplane of States Patent 0' Patented Aug. 11, 1959 its end portions 7. Adjacent one end portion 7 is a preferably metal resilient member 8 extending longitudinally of member 1 and secured at one end to the member 5 by any suitable fastening means such as 9. The opposite end of member 8 is positioned below the portion 6 of member 5, in spaced relation thereto, and has a suitable means, such as the hook-shaped portion 10, for pivotal connection thereto of an upright 2..

The upright 2 is a substantially rectangular member comprised of a handle portion 11 with side arms 12 extending from opposite ends of portion 11 and terminating in inturned portions 13 pivotally engaged within the hook-shaped portion 10 of member 3. Intermediate the ends of side arms 12 and adjacent the portions 13 are inturned portions 14 for resilient frictional engagement with portion 6 of base member 5. The distance from the center of hooked portion 10 to the adjacent face of base portion 6 is less than the distance from the center of hooked portion 10 to the upper face of upright portion 14. When upright 2 is rotated to a position substantially normal to the plane of the base as in Fig. 1, the spring clip member 3 is deflected away from base portion 6 by engagement therewith of upright portion 14. Thus deflection of clip member 3 releasably and resiliently holds upright portion 14 in engagement with base portion 6, retaining the upright 2 in normal erected position as in Fig. l. A vehicle upon engaging upright 2 from either side thereof will cause the upright to move downwardly pivoting about its portions 13 bringing the marker into collapsed position as shown in Fig. 2. Obviously the upright 2 may pivot in either direction relative to base 1 as shown by the lines A of Fig. 1.

The member 4 is preferably a substantially rectangular sheet 15 of less width than the space between upright portions 12 and provided with a hooked end portion 16 engaged by a member 17 extending between upright portions 12. The length of sheet 15 is such as to permit the sheet to swing between upright portions 12 upon member 17. Such movement of sheet 15 permits release of wind pressure against the sheet and prevents the marker from being blown lover. The sheet 15 may be of metal, plastic, or other suitable material. The marker embodying sheet 15 is primarily a traflic warning marker and the opposite faces of sheet 15 are preferably covered with a suitably colored reflective material, such as red, silver, etc. A suitable reflective material is available commercially and sold under the trade-mark Scotchlite. Other suitable materials may be used. The sheet 15 of the trafiic marker is readily visible by day and reflects the light from on-coming vehicles by night. Suitable directional arrows \or other markings may be added to the faces of sheet 15 to serve any useful or desired purpose.

In use the traflic marker of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive may be collapsed as in Fig. 2 for storage, carrying by hand, or transportation to and from the point of use. When the traflic marker is erected as in Fig. 1, it may be positioned upon its base 1 at any point on a highway or at the side of a highway to perform its intended function.

Such a trafiic marker may be used as a temporary means to protect men working on the highway or to divert traffic about an obstruction or into selected traffic lanes. Should the marker be accidentally struck by a vehicle, the upright 2 moves downwardly away from the vehicle permitting passage of the vehicle over the marker without substantial damage to the vehicle or marker. The upright may thereafter be manually moved to erected position. The marker may be of any desired size, that shown in Fig. 1 being about 12" to 18" in height, and 7" to 8" wide.

A modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawing. The traflic marker shown in these views is similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3 and comprises a base 20, upright 21 and light-reflective member 22. The base 20 is substantially rectangular to provide stability and is of substantial thickness. The base 20 may be formed of wood, metal or other suitable material; Thatshown in Figs. 4 and 5 is preferably OfWOOdfllEV- ing a rectangular bottom face23, side walls 24, sloping top wall portions 25, and end-walls '26; Extending 1ongitudinally of each side Wall 24, in spaced relation to bottom face 23, is a groove 27. Such grooves 27'preferably extend the length of each side wall 24 and are of a shape and depth to receive at least a portion of the adjacent upright. Extending inwardly from the bottoms of each groove 27, intermediate the ends thereof, to one side of the longitudinal center, and transversely of base 20, is an opening 28 in each side wall 24 of a size and length to freely receive the free ends of upright 21. Extending upward from each opening 28 is a second groove 29 connecting groove 27 with the top of side wall 24. The groove 29 is substantially the same shape as groove 27.

The upright 21 is of substantially rectangular shape, comprising a handle portion 30, side arm portions 31 extending from each end of portion 39 and terminating in inturned portions 32. The portions 32 are freely received within openings 28. The upright side arm portions 31 are sufliciently resilient to be sprung apart to permit insertion of portions 32 into openings 28 of the base side walls 24. The normal transverse spacing of upright arm portions 31 is such as to permit the portions 31 adjacent the base and upright portions 31 in position as shown in Fig. 4 when the traffic marker is in collapsed position. A relatively slight force suddenly applied to upright portion 30, while holding base 20 against movement, is sufficient to spring side arm portions 31 free of grooves 27. When upright 21 is rotated to overlie grooves 29, the adjacent side arm portions 31 resiliently engage within grooves 29 to retain the upright in erected position.

The light-reflective member 22 is similar to the member 4 of Fig. 2 and comprises a sheet 33 of metal, plas tic, or other suitable material pivotally suspended between upright side arms 31 upon a cross bar 34. The length of sheet 33 is preferably such as to not engage the adjacent base end wall 26 when the traflic marker is in collapsed position. The opposite faces of sheet 33 may be coated with a suitable light-reflective material as in Fig. 2. The sheet 33 will pivot upon cross bar 24 under wind pressure as described in relation to Fig. 1;

Preferably the base 20 is of relatively light material such as wood and provides suflicient stability to the traffic marker. readily portable and economical toship to the place of use. a r

The base 20 may be made of heavier materials, or may be weighted to provide greater stability. As shown in Fig. 6, the base 20:: may be made of any suitable light material and provided with a cavity in the bottom face thereof to be filled with a heavier material such as concrete or other filler materials. In Fig. 6 the bottom face of base 20a is provided with an overhanging lip 35 and spines 36 to hold the filler material in place. Suitable tubes 37 may also be mounted in the base cavity to receive the entering ends 32 of upright arms 31. Such methods of retaining a filler material in place are well known in the art and any suitable means may be employed.

The methods of collapsing, erecting and using the marker of Figs. 4 to 6 are the same as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3. In the marker of Fig. 1 the resiliency in the upright is provided by spring member 8; in Figs. 4 and 5 the upright arms 31 provide the resiliency to selectively move the upright relative to the base and retain the upright in erected and collapsed positions.

The traflic marker shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 11 is a modified form of that shown in Fig. 1 and comprises a base 40, upright 41 and panel 42. Base 40 comprises a substantially inverted V-shaped member 43 preferably The light weight also makes the marker having down-turned end portions 44 for engaging the highway. Extending downwardly from each side of the apex 45 of member 43 are the loop shaped members 46 suitably attached to member 43, as by welding. The upright 41 comprises a handle portion 47, downwardly extending side portions 48 and a connecting bottom portion 49. Intermediate the ends of portion 49 is an offset portion 50. The relation of offset 50 to the loop shaped members 46 is such that offset portion 50 engages with the under side of member 43 at apex 45 be fore upright 41 is in fully erected position. Thus in moving upright 41 to fully erected position, portion 50 is deflected slightly providing a tension lock holding the upright in erected position. The panel 42 comprises a member 51 having an elongated loop portion 52 at one end thereof receiving a rectangular member 53 attached to the upright side arms 48 to mount the panel upon the upright. As shown in Fig. 11, the member 53 fits loosely Within loop 52 providing limited swinging movement of the panel on member 53. Such movement is limited to less than 45 in either direction to prevent the free end of the panel from engaging the road way in such relation as to prevent free collapse of the upright 41 upon being struck by a moving vehicle.

Figs. 9, 10 and 12 illustrate a further and preferred form of the invention insofar as economy of manufacture and transportation is concerned. Instead of providing a base, a bracket 55 is provided. Such bracket may be of relatively light metal having sufficient rigidity for its purpose and preferably pressed to the shape shown. It is preferably formed of a rectangular bar or strip having a straight central portion 56 with flanges 57 at each end thereof terminating in upturned re-entrant flanges 58 preferably spaced outwardly from flanges 57. The upper portions of flanges 58 are preferably offset in- Wardly at 59 and provided with grooved indentations 60 of a depth preferably less than the thickness of the upright arms to be received therein as hereinafter described. Aligned openings 61 are formed in bracket flanges 57 and 58.

The upright 62 is of substantially U-shape and formed of rounded material such as rod or heavy wire having a handle portion 63 and side arms 64 extending downwardly from each end of portion 63. Each side arm terminates in an outwardly offset portion 65, the end of which has an inturned portion 66. The transverse spacing of arms 64 is such as to normally lie within the grooved indentations 60 of bracket 55 and the surface 67 of each arm 64 would embrace the adjacent bracket flange 58. To assemble the upright with the bracket, the upright arms 64 are sprung apart to enter the arm portions 66 into the bracket openings 61. The resilience in upright arms 64 retains the upright assembled with the bracket. A panel, such as 42 of Fig. 7, is disposed between the upright arms 64 and supported therefrom by a member such as 53. The panel 42 may be covered with light reflective material and have suitable traflic directions thereon as previously described.

A second bracket 68 may be provided for the base in the form of a rectangular member having a portion 69 upon which the base is disposed and depending flanges 70 of a length substantially that of flanges 57 of bracket 55 to maintain the base in a horizontal plane when resting upon a horizontal surface. The bracket portion 69 is preferably of a length to project past the sides of the base forming supports for the arms 64 of the upright when the latter is in collapsed position.

The base 71 may be of any material preferably wood and of a width to lie between the flanges 58 of bracket 55. The length of base 71 may be of any size but of a minimum to provide stability for the marker when the upright 62 is in erected position. Openings 72 and 73 are provided in brackets 55 and 68 respectively through which fastening members 74 extend securing the brackets to the base. 7 r

Several modifications of the trafiic marker of the invention are shown in the drawings, each comprising a base, or means for providing a base, and an upright pivotally connected with the base for movement from an erected to collapsed position when struck by a moving vehicle or when folding the marker for transportation. In each form of the invention, resilience in the upright, whether manifest by a torsional or deflection stress, is relied upon to retain the upright in erected position and to provide a yielding force resisting movement of the up right out of erected position. It is recognized that many modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art which may be made without departing from the essence of the invention disclosed. The manner of suspending the panel between uprights may be varied to obtain the described desirable features of permitting some movement of the panel to reduce wind resistance and to prevent a degree of movement whereby the angularity of the panel relative to the highway and the collapsing upright will prevent free movement of the collapsing upright to a position substantially parallel to the highway so as to not impede free movement of a vehicle thereover.

The trafiic markers disclosed have been enthusiastically received by highway contractors and trafiic engineers. Despite the apparent relative simplicity of design it will be obvious that many modifications of details may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and I do not confine myself to exact details of construction except as made necessary by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a portable traflic marker adapted to be folded flat for storage and transportation and to be erected for use, in combination, a base portion provided with aligned apertures at opposite sides thereof, a U-shaped panel support having spaced elongated resilient side arms, one

end of each said arms having an inwardly extending portion in each of said apertures, said base having grooves on opposite sides thereof extending radially of said inwardly extending arm portions for reception of a portion of the adjacent said .panel support arms for releasably retaining said arms in erected position, and a traflic signal panel mounted on said U-shaped support with the lower marginal edge of said panel disposed in vertical spaced relation to the base permitting the panel support to freely move downwardly forming an extension of said base when struck by a portion of a vehicle moving over said base in either direction.

2. The traific marker as defined in claim 1 wherein the traflic warning panel is provided with light-reflective means on at least one face thereof.

3. The traffic marker as defined in claim 1 wherein the traflic signal panel is pivotally suspended between said spaced upright arms, and said suspension includes means limiting pivotal movement of the panel relative to said arms preventing the panel from restricting free downward pivotal movement of the upright relative to the base.

4. The portable trafiic marker as defined in claim 1 wherein the said panel is mounted on said panel support for pivotal movement relative to the support.

5. The portable trailic marker as defined in claim 1, wherein said base has grooves at opposite sides thereof extending radially of said inwardly extending arm portion in direction longitudinally of the base for reception of a portion of the adjacent panel support arms in folded position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 646,053 Humphrey Mar. 27, 1900 1,776,447 Parkhurst Sept. 23, 1930 1,856,349 Bigelow May 3, 1932 

